together, along with a couple bottles of wine. He had still been far too serious and sad at the time - but that was nearly a year ago. Perhaps his wounded heart was scarring over a bit by now. We'd only find out once he finally made it home.
Belladem was too excited to immediately drop off to sleep when we went to bed that night. It wasn't only having her twin brother at home. She'd also received two letters from her beloved Dwie. She'd let everyone in the family read the letters, but she went over the news again in detail to me when we settled in beside each other.
I didn't mind that the bed wasn't moving tonight. Star was happy to lie down between me and Bell. The more people to potentially pet her the better, as far as the dog was concerned.
I listened to Belladem for a while, made some appropriate sounds. Eventually, I said, "I want to visit a dressmaker tomorrow. I'm sure Mrs. Lilac can recommend someone."
"I'm sure she can," Bell said. "But mother is planning on a major shopping campaign when we get to Loudon. Oh, are you thinking about Rassi? Yes, I suppose she needs some things. She can't wear a uniform now that she's out of the marines, and she'll outgrow it soon anyway."
"Yes, I'm sure Rassi needs a civilian wardrobe, but I want a new frock for myself. Something dressy for daywear."
"But mother brought you a formal dress."
"It's beautiful, and I look forward to wearing it to a recital soon. But I want a serious dress. A dress suitable for the certificate examination."
"Oh. Of course. I see." She was thoughtful for a bit before asking, "Why is it everything a woman wears is scrutinized and judged, or rather, why are we women judged by what we wear? Everyone can tell at a glance who and what we are by the quality of the material, the number of buttons, the width of lace on our dresses. It's silly."
"It is, but I like clothes. I've spent two years in uniform. I like clothes even better now. Besides, I like to think of fashion as armor. We fight our battles with our dresses as well as in them. That's why I need a suitable dress for the examination."
I remembered the discussions among all of us contracted women on board the ship about how a new type of fashion was needed to suitably dress women pursuing careers. I knew exactly what I wanted from such a new fashion, and had sketched it out. It would be blue, not the dark blue of a naval uniform, or the pale blue of a summer daydress, but a rich, saturated blue, with a pleated, off-center panel of ecru or cream that would show when I sat or walked, but not when I was standing still. The neckline would be square cut, but modestly high. I had acquired a silver filigree buckle on my travels. This buckle would be placed on the high waistline of the dress, just above the asymmetrical pleat. All I needed was a skilled seamstress who could make this dress a reality. It was certainly beyond my capacity to make.
"And a bonnet," I said as I dropped off to sleep. "I need a new bonnet."
Chapter Nine
I shooed all the Cliff women out of Lilac House as early as I could the next morning, though I don't think I could have managed to roust my holidaying family from bed in a timely fashion without my new sister-in-law's help. Rassi proved wonderfully efficient in organizing the expedition, showing the advantage of having a marine sergeant in the family.
I had time for one more errand before beginning my shift at Casualties. The dress shop Mrs. Lilac sent us to was open early, and I could tell from the moment we walked inside that it was also perfect for our needs. The available materials were many and varied. The seamstresses were as knowledgeable as the sample frocks displayed on mannequins throughout the space promised. Mother and Bell confirmed happily that the pattern books were of the latest fashions. I was disappointed to see drawings of flutter sleeved, and even sleeveless, ball gowns, but perhaps I wouldn't need a ball gown for this Season
Belladem was too excited to immediately drop off to sleep when we went to bed that night. It wasn't only having her twin brother at home. She'd also received two letters from her beloved Dwie. She'd let everyone in the family read the letters, but she went over the news again in detail to me when we settled in beside each other.
I didn't mind that the bed wasn't moving tonight. Star was happy to lie down between me and Bell. The more people to potentially pet her the better, as far as the dog was concerned.
I listened to Belladem for a while, made some appropriate sounds. Eventually, I said, "I want to visit a dressmaker tomorrow. I'm sure Mrs. Lilac can recommend someone."
"I'm sure she can," Bell said. "But mother is planning on a major shopping campaign when we get to Loudon. Oh, are you thinking about Rassi? Yes, I suppose she needs some things. She can't wear a uniform now that she's out of the marines, and she'll outgrow it soon anyway."
"Yes, I'm sure Rassi needs a civilian wardrobe, but I want a new frock for myself. Something dressy for daywear."
"But mother brought you a formal dress."
"It's beautiful, and I look forward to wearing it to a recital soon. But I want a serious dress. A dress suitable for the certificate examination."
"Oh. Of course. I see." She was thoughtful for a bit before asking, "Why is it everything a woman wears is scrutinized and judged, or rather, why are we women judged by what we wear? Everyone can tell at a glance who and what we are by the quality of the material, the number of buttons, the width of lace on our dresses. It's silly."
"It is, but I like clothes. I've spent two years in uniform. I like clothes even better now. Besides, I like to think of fashion as armor. We fight our battles with our dresses as well as in them. That's why I need a suitable dress for the examination."
I remembered the discussions among all of us contracted women on board the ship about how a new type of fashion was needed to suitably dress women pursuing careers. I knew exactly what I wanted from such a new fashion, and had sketched it out. It would be blue, not the dark blue of a naval uniform, or the pale blue of a summer daydress, but a rich, saturated blue, with a pleated, off-center panel of ecru or cream that would show when I sat or walked, but not when I was standing still. The neckline would be square cut, but modestly high. I had acquired a silver filigree buckle on my travels. This buckle would be placed on the high waistline of the dress, just above the asymmetrical pleat. All I needed was a skilled seamstress who could make this dress a reality. It was certainly beyond my capacity to make.
"And a bonnet," I said as I dropped off to sleep. "I need a new bonnet."
Chapter Nine
I shooed all the Cliff women out of Lilac House as early as I could the next morning, though I don't think I could have managed to roust my holidaying family from bed in a timely fashion without my new sister-in-law's help. Rassi proved wonderfully efficient in organizing the expedition, showing the advantage of having a marine sergeant in the family.
I had time for one more errand before beginning my shift at Casualties. The dress shop Mrs. Lilac sent us to was open early, and I could tell from the moment we walked inside that it was also perfect for our needs. The available materials were many and varied. The seamstresses were as knowledgeable as the sample frocks displayed on mannequins throughout the space promised. Mother and Bell confirmed happily that the pattern books were of the latest fashions. I was disappointed to see drawings of flutter sleeved, and even sleeveless, ball gowns, but perhaps I wouldn't need a ball gown for this Season
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